Tom.Thomson (8/1/2011)
Kenneth Fisher-475792 (7/29/2011)
Same goes for 1 processor working. Technically I should have said "RTM installs fail on an odd number of logical or physical processers, unless its a single processor". However since in this case we weren't talking about 1 processor, logical or physical, I chose to shorten the answer slightly.That, in my view, is appalling indifference to accuracy.
Probably true. What can I say, I'm not perfect
It's a rotten question, because it leaves out essential information. Why should I, or anyone else, assume in late 2011 that an install of SQLS 2005 is not an install of SQL 2005 with SP2 or a higher service pack? Any DBA installing an earlier version than SP2 at this date would be irresponsible - the potential problems with such an old version are enormous.
First you did understand that this was a DR install right? You install what was in production. If RTM was in production (lets certainly hope not) then you install RTM. That being said I was starting at RTM with an intent to patch. Now oddly enough I work with a team of 8 DBAs ranging in experience from just a couple of years up through around 30 and none of us have ever used a "slipstreamed" install. We all install RTM then patch. Its certainly an interesting idea and I'm going to figure out how to do it and probably we will implement it at our company, but obviously assuming that a DBA will know how and will start with a patched install is just as poor an idea as assuming they will start with RTM.
It's an even more rotten answer, because it is just plain wrong even assuming an install of the RTM version. What can that weasel word "technically" in your words quoted above purport to mean other than "actually what I said was correct was just plain wrong"?
oops, sorry, like I said above, not perfect
BTW, I got the point because I guessed the simple answer would be wrong, did some hunting, found the story, and reached the conclusion that it was a ridiculous trick question. But most people don't have nasty suspicious minds like mine, and will assume that the question means what it asks with no unbelievable provisos thrown in and that the answers offered mean what they say. SO you can't take this comment as sour grapes.
Actually I'm glad you got the point. I posted the question, not to trick anyone, not to upset anyone, or cheat someone out of a point. I posted it because it was an interesting problem, and I thought there were people out there who could benefit from the information. I personally always try to use the QoD to learn something. If I get the question right or wrong I generally follow the link, when provided, and read at least something on the subject.
I do apologize that you felt that "Odd # of CPUs other than 1" and "RTM Install, when no service pack or hotfix was mentioned" were "unbelievable provisos" and will certainly try to be more careful of my wording in the future.
Kenneth
Kenneth FisherI was once offered a wizards hat but it got in the way of my dunce cap.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------For better, quicker answers on T-SQL questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/[/url]For better answers on performance questions, click on the following... http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/SQLServerCentral/66909/[/url]Link to my Blog Post --> www.SQLStudies.com[/url]